I’ve heard people many times say “my past doesn’t matter” or “my past isn’t who I am now." This is wrong on so many levels because your past is what helps shape who you are. And, sharing your past or how you’ve become who you are is very important to people. Your story is who you are, how you became who you are and it shows what you have accomplished. Not every story is happy, and some don’t end on a happy note, but everything get better.
Your story is important to people. It’s something that is very difficult to share with others, whether it is a testimony of your faith, or your story recovering from addictions and pain; they are all important. These stories are how people find their faith, or how people learn that they can fight that an addiction that affected them for years. Your story gives people hope. This is the hope that things DO get better. Even when you feel like you have hit rock bottom, your story shows that you CAN do it and that story could be enough to inspire someone else to do the same.
Your story is important to those who want to achieve seemingly “unobtainable” goals. The story of the first person to climb Mount Everest inspired more people to try and climb this mountain, which is the tallest in the world. The achievements are important to others because it is what gives someone the inspiration to go and accomplish a goal they have had for their entire life.
Sharing your story with people can be daunting, trust me I’ve gone through this too. Sharing your story, however, requires vulnerability. Being vulnerable to people shows who you are to them and that gives them the drive to share their story with others. Being vulnerable does require trust, but it requires courage the most. Sharing your story will have a huge impact on people, especially those who need someone else to help in their drive, and it will help inspire others to do more.
Many different celebrities share about their stories, and share in the vulnerability that comes with that and give people inspiration, people such as Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Jamie Tworkowski and so many more. These people used their story, whether as an inspiration to write certain music, books or create an organization to help those who need it! For example, Jamie Tworkowski is the founder of To Write Love On Her Arms, which is an organization based on helping those with suicidal tendencies or self harm scares. He based this off of his personal story and it helped him write his book "If You Feel Too Much." He took his story, was vulnerable and shared it with the world to change the world for the better.
Everyone has a story. Some share their stories while others do not, and that's okay. Everyone's story differs. There isn't one clear "ah-ha" self realization moment in every story, and that is okay too. What is important is your story tells who you are, by having series of events occur that work together in forming your personality and forming who you are as a person, and that is important to realize.
Your story IS important. It’s who you are and your past does matter because it shaped you. Don’t let people say that the past is irrelevant. Share your past with others. Let those who need a story of encouragement push them and give them the drive they need. Let your story with a not so happy ending show someone else that they aren't the only one to have that experience. Your story could have an impact on so many people, so don’t let anyone tell you that it won’t. Go and share and you can change someone’s life forever.
